- Aug 6, 2021
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Why Do White Christians and Black Christians Have Different Voting Patterns
The most important reason why black Christians and white Christians vote for the opposite parties in this country is because of the totally different experiences they have from one another. African Americans have always had to rely on the government guarantee their equal rights. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued as an executive order by President Lincoln freeing the slaves. During Reconstruction, the Fourteenth Amendment was signed by congress in 1968 to promise equal rights under the law for freed slaves. Also during this period, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed by congress overriding a presidential veto. The right to vote was also given by to freed slaves. After the Reconstruction Era(1863-1877), these laws were either overturned, ignored and replaced by segregation/sharecropping. It would be a century later when these issues were addressed again. During the Civil Rights Era of the '50s and '60s, the Supreme Court passed Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 which paved the way for the end of Jim Crow. In 1964 President Johnson signed the civil rights act of the same year. A year later congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Where as in the 19th century, many of the white civil rights activist where former Christian abolitionist, the ones in the 1960's where liberal, left leaning, secular humanists. The NAACP was partially founded by white Socialist. Of course, the black church during both centuries where at the forefront for equal rights. As a result of this history, black politicians, regardless of religious affiliation have adopted a progressive egalitarian ideology which includes other perceived oppressed groups such as other minorities, women, gays, etc. This is the reason why black Christians vote for the pro-choice and pro-gay liberal Democrat every voting cycle whether it be state, federal, congressional, and presidential elections. The same candidate that protects gay rights also protects their rights as well.
White Christians on the other hand have always distrusted the government. One of the reasons The Declaration of Independence(1776) from England was drafted was because the mother country was approaching on their civil liberties. Nearly a century later, the Southern states declared their own independence from the union because the free states limited the right to have slaves. They accused them of violating their States Rights. This term was also used during the Civil Rights era by segregationist to describe politicians and black civil rights leaders who were for integration. From that era till today, most white conservatives(including Christians) oppose further civil rights bills because they not just only include minorities but also abortion and LGBTQ rights. Conservative white Christians look at this as interfering with their religious liberties. Even though the more economically disadvantaged whites could benefit from the social programs that progressives offer, they put faith, race, and culture over economics. In fact, many of them support voter suppression and gerrymandering. Blacks(christian and non-Christian), of course, put economics and social justice over religion.
So, you can see where white Christians and Black Christians would clash politically(think Pat Robertson vs Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton vs Mike Huckabee).
But, before you criticize Black Christians for voting for secular politicians instead of Religious Right candidates, I'm going to use a metaphor. Imagine you suffer from a migraine headache or toothache, two of the most excruciatingly painful conditions. You go to a doctor who is a Christian and well qualified to give you medicine but refuses. The religious doctor thinks that you are inferior and do not deserve any medication. On the next block , there is another doctor who is not only a secular, non Christian but also an atheist. That doctor gives you medicine. Which doctor would you go to? It's a similar dynamic between black Christians and white Christians. During the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the South, many white politicians who had evangelical Christian leanings(conservative Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats) opposed civil rights legislation while secular politicians in the North(liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans) championed such legislation.
And besides, Donald Trump is not a Christians; but, most white evangelicals support him because of his position on issues that affect them.
So. you can see where the divide comes from.
The most important reason why black Christians and white Christians vote for the opposite parties in this country is because of the totally different experiences they have from one another. African Americans have always had to rely on the government guarantee their equal rights. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued as an executive order by President Lincoln freeing the slaves. During Reconstruction, the Fourteenth Amendment was signed by congress in 1968 to promise equal rights under the law for freed slaves. Also during this period, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed by congress overriding a presidential veto. The right to vote was also given by to freed slaves. After the Reconstruction Era(1863-1877), these laws were either overturned, ignored and replaced by segregation/sharecropping. It would be a century later when these issues were addressed again. During the Civil Rights Era of the '50s and '60s, the Supreme Court passed Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954 which paved the way for the end of Jim Crow. In 1964 President Johnson signed the civil rights act of the same year. A year later congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Where as in the 19th century, many of the white civil rights activist where former Christian abolitionist, the ones in the 1960's where liberal, left leaning, secular humanists. The NAACP was partially founded by white Socialist. Of course, the black church during both centuries where at the forefront for equal rights. As a result of this history, black politicians, regardless of religious affiliation have adopted a progressive egalitarian ideology which includes other perceived oppressed groups such as other minorities, women, gays, etc. This is the reason why black Christians vote for the pro-choice and pro-gay liberal Democrat every voting cycle whether it be state, federal, congressional, and presidential elections. The same candidate that protects gay rights also protects their rights as well.
White Christians on the other hand have always distrusted the government. One of the reasons The Declaration of Independence(1776) from England was drafted was because the mother country was approaching on their civil liberties. Nearly a century later, the Southern states declared their own independence from the union because the free states limited the right to have slaves. They accused them of violating their States Rights. This term was also used during the Civil Rights era by segregationist to describe politicians and black civil rights leaders who were for integration. From that era till today, most white conservatives(including Christians) oppose further civil rights bills because they not just only include minorities but also abortion and LGBTQ rights. Conservative white Christians look at this as interfering with their religious liberties. Even though the more economically disadvantaged whites could benefit from the social programs that progressives offer, they put faith, race, and culture over economics. In fact, many of them support voter suppression and gerrymandering. Blacks(christian and non-Christian), of course, put economics and social justice over religion.
So, you can see where white Christians and Black Christians would clash politically(think Pat Robertson vs Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton vs Mike Huckabee).
But, before you criticize Black Christians for voting for secular politicians instead of Religious Right candidates, I'm going to use a metaphor. Imagine you suffer from a migraine headache or toothache, two of the most excruciatingly painful conditions. You go to a doctor who is a Christian and well qualified to give you medicine but refuses. The religious doctor thinks that you are inferior and do not deserve any medication. On the next block , there is another doctor who is not only a secular, non Christian but also an atheist. That doctor gives you medicine. Which doctor would you go to? It's a similar dynamic between black Christians and white Christians. During the 1950s and 1960s, especially in the South, many white politicians who had evangelical Christian leanings(conservative Republicans and conservative Southern Democrats) opposed civil rights legislation while secular politicians in the North(liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans) championed such legislation.
And besides, Donald Trump is not a Christians; but, most white evangelicals support him because of his position on issues that affect them.
So. you can see where the divide comes from.
